Willow circled him like a wraith, her ethereal form floating effortlessly in the air. Her icy palm brushed against Lordi Payne's cheek, the touch deceptively tender, like a lover's caress. Her voice, soft and melodic, carried a dangerous undertone as she cooed, "What does Young sir wish to ask? Remember, you get one question. Just one. If you ask more... well, I might get annoyed."
She leaned in closer, her dark, hollow eyes narrowing as an eerie grin spread across her face. "And kind young sir, you wouldn't want me annoyed, would you?"
Lordi Payne's mind raced, but he didn't hesitate. He blurted out, "Lady Willow, I need to know how to quickly earn tens of thousands of spirit stones!"
"Tens of thousands?" Willow's laughter bubbled up, light and airy, as if the idea amused her to no end. "For such a trivial amount, why trouble yourself? Just ask Mistress for it!"
Lordi Payne, "... ", his expression faltered.
Willow tilted her head, her grin widening. "Or," she continued, her tone dripping with innocence, "you could slaughter an entire city and loot it. That should cover your needs, don't you think?"
Lordi Payne's silence was answer enough.
She wasn't done. "Oh, I know!" she exclaimed, clapping her hands together like a delighted child. "Kill that girl you've been flirting with these past few days. Skin her for me, and I'll even lend a hand. How's that for a solution?"
Lordi Payne's face stiffened. "Lady Willow, you're kidding me," he replied, his voice tight. The thought of asking Fairy Lith for spirit stones was laughable—she'd likely kill him on the spot. Slaughtering a city? That was the work of a true demon, not a fourth-layer Qi Refinement cultivator like him. And skinning Chen Mave?
He straightened, his tone serious. "Senior Brother Chen and Senior Sister Chen have been kind to me. How could I repay their kindness with betrayal?"
"Kind?" Willow's laughter returned, but this time it carried a strange, almost mocking edge. Her dark eyes gleamed with an odd light as she giggled. "Oh, of course, that makes sense. Well, then, figure it out yourself."
With that, her form dissolved into a cloud of black mist, leaving Lordi Payne alone in the eerie silence of the courtyard.
He frowned, his mind racing. That last look Willow had given him—it was suspicious, almost anticipatory, as if she were waiting for something to unfold. When he'd mentioned the kindness of Chen Haunt and Chen Mave, her reaction had been... off. It wasn't just amusement; it was as if she knew something he didn't.
The realization settled heavily in his chest. He didn't fully trust Willow—her yandere tendencies and unpredictable nature made her dangerous—but her reaction had planted a seed of doubt. If there was even a chance that Chen Haunt and his sister were scheming against him, he couldn't afford to ignore it.
His safety was on the line. Tomorrow, he would test the siblings. If something was amiss, he'd need to act quickly...
As Lordi Payne stood in the dusty garden, his thoughts churning like a storm, a sudden smack interrupted his reverie. A scroll struck him square in the face before tumbling to the ground.
At the same moment, the system chimed in his mind, its mechanical tone rang with Willow's sultry, icy voice echoing in his ear.
"Mistress's orders," Willow purred, her words dripping with menace. "Master it in seven days—or die."
~ Ding! System Notification Chime ~
[AllFullOS: Version 1.0.0]
> Detected external data.
> Pattern identified: [External Footwork Art Technique]
> Technique Recording initiated...
Snapping back to reality, Lordi Payne quickly sheathed his blade and scooped up the scroll. It was another handwritten manuscript, much like the Blood Fiend Sword Art scroll he'd received earlier. But this one was worse. The title on the cover was nearly incomprehensible—four cloud calligraphy characters, only three of which he recognized. "Blood... something... Footwork Art." What was it?
Before he could ponder further, the system chimed again.
~ Ding! System Notification Chime ~
[AllFullOS: Version 1.0.0]
> Progress: ... 50%... 100%
> New cultivation technique added to database: [Untitled Technique #0003]
> Recording complete.
> Please rename the technique!
"Call it the Blood Lothgar Footwork Art," Lordi Payne muttered offhandedly. He'd received this technique in Lothgar City, and it had something to do with "Blood" and "Footwork." Shortening it to Blood Lothgar seemed logical enough.
Tucking the scroll into his robe, he noticed the scenery around him shifting. The ruined, dusty courtyard melted away, replaced by a serene garden bathed in silver moonlight. Lush greenery surrounded him, the air alive with the chirping of insects and the croaking of frogs. If not for the lingering pain of his wounds and the scroll in his hand, he might have thought it all a dream.
To his left, Chen Haunt's courtyard was silent, save for the faint breathing of servants. To his right, Hwong Hyun's quarters echoed with muffled giggles—likely the man enjoying the "company" of a maid. Neither Chen Haunt nor Hwong Hyun seemed to have noticed anything amiss. Even Jarl Drainwood, the Foundation Stage cultivator and ruler of the city, appeared completely unaware.
Lady Willow's power was truly terrifying.
Awed and wary, Lordi Payne's headache intensified as his thoughts turned to Fairy Lith. If a mere Phantom Maid like Willow was this horrifying, what kind of monstrosity was her mistress? And to think he'd somehow lay his flithy hand on the future saintess... no, he couldn't even finish the thought.
NO! I'm also a damn victim! Lordi Payne's too heartbroken for tears.
Sighing, he shook his head, trying to clear the chaos from his mind. Two priorities loomed large: clear his fine as quickly as possible, and uncover the true intentions of Chen Haunt and Chen Mave. Were they truly kind, or was it all an elaborate ruse?
With that in mind, he slipped back to his room as discreetly as possible. Once inside, he flipped through the scroll Willow had given him. The contents were dense and cryptic, filled with intricate diagrams and esoteric instructions. But he didn't dare cultivate the technique using the Awful system (AllFullOS) —not here, not now.
Yes, Lady Willow had come and gone like a shadow, completely undetected by Jarl Drainwood and the others. But Lordi Payne wasn't about to take that kind of risk. Using the system to one-click cultivate inside the jarl's mansion? That was asking for trouble. Who knew what the awful (Allfull OS) system might compel him to do next? Steal from Jarl Drainwood? Force Chen Mave to become his next dao spouse? Slaughter Chen Haunt's squad members to enhance his external Fiends?
No, it was far too dangerous. He'd wait until he found a secluded spot.
The night passed uneventfully after the harrowing encounter, the courtyard eerily calm as if the horrors of the previous evening had never occurred. Lordi Payne slept fitfully, his mind racing with plans and contingencies.
After a quiet breakfast, Chen Mave arrived at his courtyard, her smile as bright and innocent as a blooming lotus. "Junior Brother Payne, we're resting today. My brother is preparing supplies for our tasks outside the city. Since we've got nothing planned, do you have anything in mind?"
Lordi Payne met her gaze evenly, his expression calm. "Senior Sister, my cultivation level is still quite low. The nonstop travel has worn me out—I need a full day's rest to recover. Of course, if you have any instructions, just let me know."
Chen Mave's eyes flickered with something unreadable, though her smile remained sweet. "Oh, no, don't worry. I just came to check on you. If you're resting, I won't bother you further."
With that, she left, her footsteps light and unhurried.
Lordi Payne watched her go, his mind already turning to the next steps. Once she was out of sight, he turned to a female servant who was clearing the dishes from his breakfast. "Does Lothgar City have a market or something similar—a good place for a stroll?"
The servant paused her work, curtsying respectfully. "Yes, Immortal Master. There's a market at the heart of the city. It's lively and filled with all sorts of goods. Would you like directions?"
Lordi Payne nodded slightly, his expression thoughtful. "Thank you. That will do."
As the servant provided the details, Lordi Payne's mind was already racing ahead. He needed to prepare for the worst. If Chen Haunt and his squad intended him harm, what could he do?
Fleeing outright seemed like an option, but it could also be a trap. Chen Haunt leaving him here alone suggested they had a plan to deal with him if he tried to run. Even they didn't have preparation, deal with Lordi Payne—a 4th layer newbie, first time been to Lothgar City, who's unfamiliar with the area, and two qi levels below Chen Haunt. Lordi Payne stood little chance of outrunning them.
If fleeing wasn't the answer, then the only way out was to borrow Willow's power.
The phantom maid had made her intentions clear the previous night—she wanted Chen Mave's skin. The thought sent a chill down Lordi Payne's spine, but he pushed it aside. Survival came first.
But before he could act, he needed to confirm whether Chen Haunt truly had malicious intentions toward him. To do that, he needed to test the waters.
Lordi Payne called the female servant back and instructed her to keep his movements secret from Chen Mave and the others. The servant nodded obediently. With that, Lordi Payne slipped out of the guest courtyard through the back door, his movements careful and deliberate. He sauntered toward the market, his senses on high alert, ready for anything.
Hours Later, Beyond the Walls of Lothgar City
The peach blossom forest stretched endlessly before them, a hundred miles of delicate pink petals swaying in the breeze, their fragrance thick and cloying.
Sil Deshah sat cross-legged at the heart of a small clearing, her slender frame cloaked in a sect robe of midnight blue that shimmered faintly with embroidered sigils. Her eyes were shut tight, brows furrowed in concentration, as an array compass hovered before her—a curious artifact of polished jade and etched bronze. Her fingers danced through the air, tracing intricate seals that glowed briefly with a sickly green light before dissolving into nothingness. With a soft thud, the compass dropped to the ground. Her eyes snapped open and she let out a bitter sigh.
"No good," she muttered, shaking her head as if to dislodge the frustration clinging to her. "The positive energy in this forest is overwhelming. It's clashing with the essence of the Summon Soul Banner. I could force deploy the Soul-Devouring Parent-Child Array here, but the souls we tear free would be scorched by this place. The banner's power would suffer for it."
Hwong Hyun, a hulking figure with a face carved from granite and a perpetual scowl, folded his thick arms across his chest. His voice rumbled like distant thunder. "What now, then? You swore up and down this would work, Sil. Don't tell me we've wasted half a day on nothing."
Sil's eyes flashed with irritation, but before she could retort, Chen Haunt stepped between them. He raised his hands placatingly, his voice smooth and measured, though a nervous edge danced beneath it. "Enough, Hwong, ease up. This is our first time in this valley—how could Junior Sister Sil have known the forest would resist her array? The Lothgar region is vast and wild. We'll find another spot. There's no need to bite each other's heads off."
Hwong Hyun grunted, his scowl deepening as he kicked at a fallen peach blossom, crushing it beneath his boot. "We're out here fiddling with arrays while that kid's alone in the city. It's a risk we didn't need to take. The longer we dawdle, the messier this gets."
Chen Mave, who had been lingering silently at the edge of the clearing, stepped forward with a sly smile tugging at her lips. Her voice was light, almost playful, but there was a sharpness to it that cut through the tension. "Don't fret so much, Senior Brother Hwong. I've got it handled. Days ago, I slipped a little gift onto that boy—Thousand-Mile Incense. Within a thousand miles, he's as good as tethered to me. My Tracer Bee will find him, no matter where he run."
She lifted her sleeve, revealing a creature perched on the fabric—a thumb-sized insect that bore only a passing resemblance to a honeybee. Its body was a grotesque blend of sleek black chitin and jagged, thorn-like protrusions, its maw a gaping horror of needle-sharp teeth. Yet when Chen Mave brushed her fingertip against it, the Tracer Bee nuzzled her affectionately, emitting a low, buzzing purr that was equal parts endearing and unsettling.
Hwong Hyun's scowl softened as he eyed the bee, though a flicker of unease lingered in his gaze. "Fine," he grumbled, waving a hand dismissively. "Just make sure your little monsters don't lose him."
Sil Deshah, still stinging from her miscalculation, had turned her attention to a weathered map spread out before her. Her fingers traced the curling lines of rivers and the jagged edges of mountains, her lips moving silently as she calculated. Then, her face brightened, a spark of hope igniting in her eyes. "This way!" she exclaimed, jabbing a finger at the parchment. "There's a canyon not far from here—narrow, shadowed, and deep. The energy there feels... colder, more compatible. It might just work."